Illuminated religious symbol



Nm. 20, i956 c. sElsHoLTz, JR 2977L543 ILLUMINATED RELIGIOUS SYMBOL Filed Sept. 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l naamw-yan1 INV ENTOR CALVIN selsHoLrz, JR.

E ATTORNEY Ac. sElsHoL'i-z, .JR

ILLUMINATED RELIGIOUS SYMBOL INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 muy d e M f/ ff F United States Paten@ ILLUMINATED RELIGIOUS SYMBOL Calvin Seisholt'z, Jr., Allentown, Pa. Application September 2, 1953, Serial No. 378,156

1 claim. (Cl. 24o-lio) The present invention relates to a religious symbol and more particularly to a religious symbol in the form of a cross made of light conductive material with a source of illumination to produce a glow.

Heretofore various types of religious symbols have been used and some have been illuminated in various ways, but the results have not been satisfactory and the symbols have not been distributed in large commercial quantities due to their expense,` the unattractiveness of the design and the .danger of vproducing religious controversy as well as the feeling that such prior devices have detracted from religionrather than added to the cultural value thereof, f

An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior religious symbols and to provide a structure in good taste for use in homes of modest means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glow lamp which may have an ornamental design and provide a small amount of illumination so that sufcient light will be provided so persons will not come in contact with furniture and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which may take the form of various shaped figures with hidden means for producing a brilliant effect on the` structure.

A further object is to provide a single piece of material for the entire structure so that the cost may be kept to a minimum.

The present invention relatesA to a structure including a hollow base in which a source of illumination is provided and a standard in the form of a symbol such as a religious cross supported from the base with the base and cross being integrally formed of a light carrying `or transparent material with the exterior surface of the symbol made of irregular shape so that the light appears to originate on the exposed surface of the cross. The base may also be illuminated or may be screened off by an interior or exterior coating if desired.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of one form of an illuminated religious cross;

Fig. 2 a side view of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 3, a bottom view of the cross of Fig. l with the bottom plate omitted;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary section taken on a broken line 4-4 of Fig. l showing some parts in elevation;

Fig. S, a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, an elevational view of a modified form of religious symbol;

Fig. 7, an enlarged fragmentary view of another modified form of religious cross.

Fig. 8, a sectional view taken substantially on line 8 8 of Fig. 7 showing the facets of the surface design.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l to 5 inclusive of the drawings, a base of elongated octagonal outline ICC includes aiskirt 10 and a series of steps 11, 12, and 13 and from the uppermost step 13 a standard 14 projects and carries horizontal outwardly extending arms 15 and 16 and an upwardly extending arm 17 forming a religious cross. At the intersection of the standard 14 and the arms a shield 18 having the usual inscription thereon is formed in the material of the cross. The cross and base may be made of the same material which may include glass, moldable plastics,` and other transparent materials. The surface of the cross may be etched or otherwise made somewhat irregular to provide a mottled or frosted appearance and some or all of the surfaces of the cross may have a convex shape.

The base is made hollow as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusiveproviding a dome shaped interior 18A communieating with the octagonal interior defined by the skirt 10 for receiving a source of illumination, such as an incandescent'bulb 19 supported in a conventional socket 20 which in turn is supported on a metallic bracket 21. The bracket 21 is made of a flat strip of material which is bent at 22 and 23 and has an aperture in a portion 23A at [the opposite end from the bulb through which the threaded tubular shank 24 of a conventional electric switch 24A extends and the threaded portion 24 also passes through a reduced opening in the skirt portion 10 of the base, and such tubular threaded portion 24 i of the switch also passes through the adjacent end portion 23A of the bracket 21 and a nut 27 threaded on the tubular portion 24 serves to retain the switch 24A and the bracket 21' with the light 19 thereon in operative position as shown inthe drawings. The restricted opening 25 communicates with a Ventilating opening 28 through a reduced slot 29 which slot is of less dimension than the diameter of the shank 24 so that the shank 24 is positively maintained in the restricted opening 25 as shown in Fig. 5.

Electric current may be supplied from a conventional convenience outlet by means of a plug 30 and a cord 31 which branches into a wire 32 extending to the switch 24A which may be of the rheostat control type for varying the intensity of the illumination, if desired. The other wire 33 extends directly to the socket 20, and a third wire 34 extends from the switch 24A to the socket 20, thereby supplying the incandescent bulb 19 with power under the control of the wsitch 24A in a conventional manner. It will be noted that the bracket 21 includes a section 23A through which the tubular shank 24 of the switch passes and the section 23A engages the lower surface of the step 11 so that the single tubular shank 24 and nut 27 positively secure the bracket 21 in the position shown in the drawings.

In assembling the switch structure with the base the nut 27 would be released and the wires would pass through the opening in the portion 23A of the bracket 21 and such Wires could pass transversely through Ventilating opening 28, through restricted passage 29 and into the restricted opening 25 and the shank 24 can be inserted axially from the exterior of the base into the interior and through the restricted opening 25, through the aperture in portion 23A of the bracket 21 and the nut 27 then screwed on, and the positive engagement of section 23A of the bracket against the underside of step 11 maintains the lamp in proper position. Although other types of lamps and switches could be used, including fluorescent type of illumination, the construction shown is particularly adaptable and provides a means for maintaining the source of illumination properly centered in the dome yshaped recess 18A of the base.

A plate 35 may be applied to the bottom edges of the base and a layer of felt 36 applied to the underside of plate 35 to prevent scratching the surface upon which the lamp is placed. The plate 35 may be secured by any suitable means including adhesives and the like to the skirt portion 10 of the base. If desired the bottom edge of the skirt portion 10 may be rabbeted so that the plate 35 is hidden from view. In some constructions the plate 35 may be omitted and the skirt portion 10 extended at the corners to provide legs with Ventilating openings between the legs similar to Ventilating openings 28 so that air may circulate from all sides around the bulb 19, and if desired individual pads could be applied to the projecting legs.

A cross is shown in Figure 6 which includes a base 37 of a modified construction and a religious cross 38 supported thereon with a figure 39 of a religious character thereon and the illumination thereof `may be similar to that described in Figs. 1 throughfS inclusive.

A modification of the design is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and the cross therein is provided with projections of octagonal frusto-pyramidal shape projections 40 with a small cross 41 formed in the outer surface thereof. These frusto-pyramidal shaped elements 40 result in attractive lighting effects due to the refraction of light passing into such portions and the reflections resulting therefrom. Rounded corner 42 may be provided at the intersecting surfaces to definitely outline the cross and producing a desirable ornamental effect. It will be understood that the lighting of the cross shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be similar to that described above and the base may take various forms.

Although a number of specific embodiments have been shown in the application, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. The plate 35 on its upper surface may provide a reflecting surface to reflect light upwardly within the base and against the dome-shaped recess 18A and such light will then pass into the standard of the cross and to the Vertical and horizontal arms thereby increasing the intensity of the light.

It may be desirable to coat the skirt portion of the base to prevent light from passing upwardly therefrom and such coating may be applied to the interior or exterior as good taste and the lighting effect may require.

From the above it will be evident that the present invention provides a glow lamp of religious significance with a hidden source of illumination producing a de- 4 sirable lighting effect and may be used singly or in cornbination with similar lamps to produce the desired result.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is: l

A lamp including a standard of translucent material and of generally cruciform configuration, the meeting edges of the faces of said standard being rounded to permit uninterrupted refraction of light therethrough, the surface arca of said faces being provided with contiguous frusto-pyramidal projections permitting interrupted transmission of light therethrough, a hollow base connected to said standard, said base including a continuous depending skirt and a substantially centrally located dome-shaped interior surface, the upper outer surface of said base comprising a plurality of stepped surfaces of progressively reduced surface areas, a bracket mounted within said base upon an inner surface of said depending skirt, a source of illumination carried by said bracket and posi tioned to direct light rays upwardly against said domeshaped surface to illuminate said standard, a reecting cover plate below vsaid hollow base, and a Ventilating aperture located in one wall of said depending skirt and providing communication between said hollow base and the outer atmosphere.

References lCited n the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mead Nov. 9, 1937 Kugel Feb. 11, 1919 Kopp Feb. 23, 1932 Rolph Dec. 31, 1937 Morrison Jan. 10, 1950 Kimball July 29, 1952 Arenberg Dec. 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 23, 1935 

